Finding the Broken Cowboy

by Cassidy Hanton

  "We had such a lovely time, thank you for having us, Mabel," her aunt answered for all the Fosters to Madame Mab.

  Madame Mab clapped her hands, still in high spirits despite the fact that she was laboring all evening and being a perfect hostess. Beatrice was in awe of that woman. She hoped she would be half as accomplished as she was some day.

  "I am glad," she replied honestly. "And I do hope we will see one another more often in the future," she added. Beatrice's aunt made a face, and Beatrice knew her well enough by now to know what her reply would be. She preferred to stay at the ranch, and her illness, however wrong that sounded, was a perfect excuse.

  More to the point, Beatrice started to notice some things regarding her aunt, yet she still hasn't felt confident or comfortable enough to share her wild theories with anyone. Not even Elaine.

  "I can't promise that," Aunt Claudia replied with a shake of her head. "Though I know Beatrice would be delighted to come in my stead."

  Beatrice liked that idea very much, so she reaffirmed her Auntie's sentiment with her own.

  "Marvelous," Madame Mab cheered. "I find that I rather do enjoy Beatrice's company, she is such a gem."

  "That she is," Uncle Tom had to say.

  Beatrice didn't need all that high praise, yet one truth was undeniable. She had a lovely time that evening. More accurately put, she felt enchanted. It felt good to be doing something she considered normal.

  Of course, dinner parties in Helena differed from the ones in New York, yet their essence was the same: bringing people together to socialize and spend time of leisure in happiness. That was more prominent in Helena since most of these people worked really hard during their days, and a part of Beatrice found that was closer to her heart.

  Alas, as was usually the case in life, there was something that put a blemish to her experience, and it was in the form of one Nathan Walsh. That man rubbed her the wrong way. Beatrice could not fathom what everyone saw in him, because to her he was nothing more than a fool with no regard, dressed like a rancher.

  And why did he have to come and sit next to me? It bothered her to no end. He also followed her around, to the point where she saw him no matter where she turned, made cryptic comments and insulted her. Overall his behavior made no sense at all.

  Once they said their final goodbyes, Beatrice sighed happily inside their coach, relieved to be alone and be done with him for the evening.

  "Beatrice?" Aunt Claudia called out to her, and by the looks of it not for the first time.

  "Hm?" Beatrice replied absentmindedly.

  "What is it, child, you seem miles away?" Aunt Claudia asked, wrapping herself more securely inside her shawl. It was starting to get a bit chilly while riding.

  "Just tired," Beatrice replied, and if her words needed to be emphasized, she yawned.

  "Did you have a good time?" Uncle Tom wanted to know, riding alongside her.

  "Oh, yes," Beatrice replied with a smile. "Thank you for taking me, Uncle Tom." And that was no lie. Despite the fact she had to endure Mr. Walsh's presence, she rather enjoyed herself and meeting the people of Helena. She just hoped she would get invited to another one of those things in the future, and near future at that.

  "Any time," her uncle replied simply.

  "I did not know you had such a fine voice," her aunt changed the subject. "My Mag is rather skillful as well, but there are no words to describe your voice, child. Simply divine."

  "Thank you, Auntie," Beatrice replied, slightly embarrassed.

  No matter how many times she heard that, she still wasn't accustomed to such praise. To her, her voice was just that, her voice; if it pleased other people that was enough of an award to her. It was God-given after all, so all the praise went to Him and not to her.

  "Here we are, home sweet home," Uncle Tom murmured to himself as they reached the house.

  Beatrice had mixed feelings about that statement since she did, in fact, start to feel about the ranch in that regard. On the other, she felt like betraying her parents for having them in the first place.

  "Elaine?” Beatrice inquired as the other woman was brushing her hair before bedtime, an old ritual they still both enjoyed.

  "Hm?"

  "Do you believe my parents are disappointed in me?"

  "Why would you ask such a thing?" Elaine paused, mid-brush.

  Beatrice explained what was troubling her. “I just feel safe here…”

  "I think you are right where you are supposed to be, and your dear parents would be mighty proud of you," she delivered with such conviction Beatrice felt better.

  Once she retired for the night, Beatrice actually managed to fall asleep despite her previous claims. She did not dream about her assailant stalking her throughout the night trying to kill her, but rather about a certain pair of green eyes that belonged to a more peculiar fiend, which was a nightmare of a sort in its own right.

  Chapter Eleven

  Beatrice hummed to herself while she made a new petticoat for herself. Elaine sat next to her, doing the same.

  "Beatrice, come quickly!" Aunt Claudia called out for her, and Beatrice managed to prick her finger because of the suddenness. Leaving her endeavor, Beatrice rushed from her room downstairs since there was honest urgency in her aunt's voice.

  What happened? She wondered. "Yes, Auntie?" Beatrice asked in alarm, reaching her.

  Aunt Claudia simply smiled in return which stunned her for a heartbeat or two. Then she took Beatrice's hands and beckoned her closer to the window in the receiving room.

  "Look who decided to pay us a visit," she said in pure delight. Beatrice focused on the rider that was still in the distance. The only thing she could see was a man on horseback, yet under the hat, she could almost see a very recognizable, very red head of hair.

  No, no, no, not him, please no, she pleaded the heavens, to no avail. All she could do was watch him approach the house at high speed. He is really coming! Beatrice hoped the exchange at the party was nothing more than passing politeness, yet here he was.

  She looked at Elaine who followed her downstairs in alarm, as if pleading for help, yet her old governess simply laughed, mumbling something about young people and returned to her task, leaving Beatrice alone with her aunt. And Him!

  "What does he want?" Beatrice discovered too late she failed to use her inside voice for that question. Aunt Claudia looked at her questioningly, since her tone was not warm or welcoming.

  "Isn't it quite obvious," her aunt decided to answer her despite her rudeness. "He has taken a shine to you," she explained in a voice that suggested that was the most obvious thing in the world. Beatrice could only gawk in return, looking rapidly between the approaching rider and her aunt.

  That is not possible. She couldn't explain why that man decided to come as of now, perhaps to torment her a bit more with his rudeness and clever remarks. However, he most definitely did not take a shine to her and liked her in any way her aunt suggested. That is ridiculous and appalling at the same time.

  Regardless of his motives, Beatrice did not want any part in that charade. She would find a way to send him away immediately. What am I to do? Her mind rushed to find an excuse to not receive him. Should I fabricate an illness? While she mused, her aunt dragged her outside to wait for her visitor on the front porch. "This is rather exciting," her aunt said with the most radiant of smiles.

  "Are you all right, Auntie, do you feel weakened?" Beatrice grabbed for a straw despite the fact that was quite wrong of her.

  "I never felt better," Aunt Claudia announced. "Beatrice, do smile a little."

  While the two women had their little exchange, the rider finally arrived and stopped his horse next to them. He dismounted in one smooth motion and smiled at them while looking a bit winded.

  "Good day, ladies. You look lovely as ever," Nathan Walsh greeted them.

  "Good day Nathan," Aunt Claudia greeted him back, throwing Beatrice a knowing half-smile, which made Beatrice want to roll with her eyes in retu
rn. She greeted him with the incline of her head.

  "What brings you here?" Aunt Claudia inquired, as if she did not already know the answer to that question.

  If I faint now would that be enough to make him go away?

  "As promised, I came to offer my services as a riding tutor for your niece," Nathan explained, still wearing that same smile, which Beatrice found insulting. It appeared Mr. Nathan Walsh was still mocking her.

  "That is mighty kind of you," Aunt Claudia said with gratitude. "And I'm sure Beatrice feels…"

  "Feels you should not have bothered," Beatrice blurted out before she could stop herself. Now that the cat was out of the bag, she might as well finish. "I do not wish to learn to ride but I thank you regardless for your offer, and I apologize for the inconvenience of troubling you to come all this way today," Beatrice recited.

  Auntie looked at her incredulously, as if she grew an additional head and a tail at least while Mr. Walsh continued to smile, which bothered her to no end.

  "Beatrice," her aunt snapped, yet Mr. Walsh stepped forward, clearly having something to say.

  "You are in the west, Miss Beatrice," he started as if she was not aware of that fact up until that moment, and he continued. "It is imperative for everyone to learn to ride a horse. Here that is essential as breathing."

  That is clearly an exaggeration, Beatrice thought to herself, yet she was the only one.

  "Precisely," her aunt agreed. "Even I know how to ride, although I seldom do because of my illness."

  Beatrice had to work really hard to keep her posture. "Thank you for your advice," she replied politely. "Yet, I decline."

  "Nonsense," her aunt snapped, clearly losing patience with her. "I apologize for my niece, Nathan, I do not know what came over her, but she will be happy to accept your offer," her aunt accepted instead of her.

  "Auntie," Beatrice started to protest. She did not care if she sounded like a petulant child. Beatrice did not want to spend her afternoon with this man. Period.

  "Beatrice, listen to me," she said in a hushed voice, as if that would prevent Mr. Walsh from hearing their exchange. "If Nathan was kind enough to come all this way for your own convenience, the least you can do is return the favor."

  Auntie Claudia was right to a degree. Her mother would have a fit as well if she refused a gentleman that came calling for any reason. As if seeing her wavering, Aunt Claudia started rubbing her temples. "This is all starting to tire me, I might faint if you continue to vex me for no apparent reason."

  Beatrice instantly agreed, not wanting to cause her aunt additional pain. "I am sorry, Auntie, of course, you are right, I will learn to ride," Beatrice said reluctantly.

  Her aunt cheered immediately, "Splendid," which made Beatrice question her sincerity about her condition. Aunt Claudia wouldn't use her faints like this. Would she? Regardless, Beatrice would not back away again, so she turned toward her visitor.

  "Mr. Walsh, thank you for agreeing to be my tutor, and I apologize for my rudeness," Beatrice delivered despite the fact those words left a bad taste in her mouth, and as if he knew all that, the smile on his face grew even bigger.

  "That is quite all right, Miss Beatrice. I am glad you changed your mind."

  Beatrice hadn't, yet the deed was done and now she was stuck. Good Lord, have mercy on me now…

  Nathan could barely contain himself not to laugh out loud. Beatrice's reactions to him were so pure and honest, which was a rare occurrence when everybody was more worried about propriety than anything else, that it amused him to no end. That was not to suggest she was without manners, quite the contrary, she was everything a young woman should be, yet at the same time she was different, special, and he found that to be quite interesting.

  Also, it was quite amusing watching her while she tried really hard to find a way to abandon their little agreement. However, she could not simply walk away from him the way she did during Madame Mab's dinner party since her aunt was standing right there.

  A true happenstance, Nathan thanked the heavens.

  "Go on Beatrice," Mrs. Foster urged her. "Just tell Jonathan to saddle you a suitable horse."

  "Oh, that is quite all right," Nathan felt the urge to intervene. "I brought my own," he gestured toward his horse. "For our first lesson."

  "You are a true gentleman," Mrs. Foster complimented. "Do remember to drop by the house later before departure to have some refreshments."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  With that settled, Mrs. Foster turned to her niece. "Do try to enjoy yourself, Beatrice, yet be careful."

  "I will," Beatrice replied as Nathan said, "She will." That earned him a glance from Beatrice that was not quite friendly, yet he ignored it.

  Once Mrs. Foster walked back into the house leaving them alone, Nathan gestured with his hand. "Shall we?" He urged. She simply continued to stand on the porch wishing for him to simply disappear; however, there was no chance of that happening any time soon. He was enjoying himself a great deal to allow something like that.

  Raising her chin ever so slightly she nodded. "We shall," she replied strongly, walking down the steps past him and continued to do so as if she already knew where they were going.

  She is adorable when acting like this, Nathan realized. "Miss Beatrice, this way," he called out after her, so she adjusted her trajectory while he tried really hard once again not to laugh. He was in extremely high spirits. This is going to be splendid!

  They stayed inside the confines of the ranch, partly because her family would be more comfortable if they were close by, where they could be monitored, which was fine with Nathan. He was trying to prove he was not a scoundrel, after all, a notion she adopted purely on his rather poor behavior; Nathan was more than aware it was his entire fault. And partly because Mr. Tom Foster built a small training circle for the new horses that now worked splendidly to their advantage.

  Nathan made sure he behaved like a perfect gentleman this time. Since Beatrice was a fine young lady; she deserved to be treated as such, especially by him. The problem with such a notion was that he always had such plans, they were customary in any regard, though they tended to disappear for some reason when he was near her.

  Focus Nathan, he urged himself. You are here because you have an elaborate plan, remember? "All right," he said mostly to himself before addressing Beatrice. "Let us begin." Nathan patted his favorite. "This is Bailey, my favorite horse, one of…"

  "Just a horse, oh my..." Beatrice exclaimed taking him by surprise. "I believed it was some ghastly prairie beast," she delivered in all seriousness.

  So, she still held that against him. Good to know. Nathan inclined his head in reply. "I suppose I deserved that."

  The look she gave him in return suggested there was nothing supposed about it. He deserved it, period. It was on the tip of Nathan's tongue to ask for permission to continue with his explanation but thought better of it.

  "There is a proper way of approaching the horse," he said instead, ignoring her last nonverbal comment which irritated her just a bit. He noticed the way she set her lips in a thin line.

  This is not going the way I planned, and that tended to happen a lot around Miss Beatrice. For some reason, he liked to bother her. Alas, he needed to stop if he wanted her to like him.

  Nathan refocused on telling Beatrice the essentials of horse care. She listened intently, however, keeping her distance. Nathan showed her everything, cautioned her a great deal as well about the things he thought were of great importance for every novice to know or be aware of.

  "Your turn." Nathan urged her to approach Bailey. Beatrice hesitated and Bailey sensed that, getting a bit nervous. Nathan instantly soothed the horse but then something occurred to him.

  "Miss Beatrice, have you ever petted a horse before?" He wanted to know.

  "No, I have not," she reluctantly replied.

  "All right, we will remedy that immediately," he said in a gentle voice as if that was of importance so to not embarrass her. Nathan nea
red her. "Take a deep breath," he commanded, "and calm yourself."

  It was apparent she was about to snap something witty back. He did not give her a chance to do so. "Horses are rather intuitive creatures. They can smell your emotions," he told her. "You have to be confident and in utmost control while dealing with them."

  Surprisingly, Beatrice closed her eyes and took a deep breath, doing precisely as was told. So cold logic appeals to her, Nathan mused. That was good to know.

  "Good," Nathan said approvingly, seeing her calming rather quickly.

  She opened her eyes and looked at him. For some reason, he was the one who had to catch his breath. "Now come with me," Nathan said, clearing his voice. Urging her, they neared Bailey together.

  Nathan petted Bailey on the neck, head, and nose first, showing Beatrice what Bailey liked the most, and to his surprise, she started mimicking his movements without being prompted to do so.

  Nathan slowly took a step back leaving the two to get accustomed to each other’s presence. The bond between a rider and horse was rather important. Nathan always believed that most accidents occurred when the bond was missing or in some way impaired.

  "He is so soft," Beatrice said in wonder, having the most radiant smile on her face. "And handsome." Nathan had to admit she looked quite lovely without a constant frown on her face. Bailey leaned into her touch, most likely understanding every word.

  "He likes you," Nathan told her.

  "He is quite lovely as well," Beatrice replied, speaking her words to the horse. Bailey started making noises in return, enjoying the attention and praises immensely. Nathan felt like rolling his eyes but then stopped.

  Am I really envious of a horse right now? No, of course not! He rebelled instantly against such a ridiculous notion. He was glad to see Beatrice liked Bailey and vice versa. It made his task easier. "You are a natural with him," Nathan praised, boosting Beatrice's confidence even more.

  "I do not know about that. I just find it easy with him," Beatrice said in all honesty.